Probably presented by Roulland le Roux (master mason of Rouen Cathedral, active c. 1500-1520) to the chapter of Rouen Cathedral, 8 March 1516; given to Jacques-Alexandre-Henry du Moucel (1693/94-1767), Lord of Louraille, ‘prèsident à mortier’ of the parliament of Rouen (1718-42), 1726 (1); French family of architects, France, until 2014; [Les Enluminures, Paris], 2014; [Sam Fogg, Ltd, London], 2014 - 2017; purchased by MFAH, 2018.
(1) A strip of parchment attached to the back of the Tower drawing has an inscription written in an 18th-century hand in thick brown ink:
Le Boucher Prestre au
Dessous de Mr Le President
De Louraille en l’année
1726.
It translates as “The priest Le Boucher, under (?) Monsieur the President of Louraille during the year 1726.” The inscription suggests that it was probably added when the object changed hands.